Bachelors fret at mall bias

Ajnas
By Ajnas

DOHA • ‘Family Day’ ruling enforced by major shopping centres continues to irk bachelors keen to shop at these places.

Security personnel yesterday barred most bachelors from entering the mall's premises. However, some bachelors from certain communities were given access causing some tension at the mall’s entrance, this reporter observed.

"It's so unfair. The guards did not even mind them," commented a bachelor who saw two men entering the mall. Disappointed bachelors — mostly from the Industrial Area — who came to the City Center yesterday expressed disgust over the shopping centre management's newly implemented decision.

"I didn't know that Friday is a family day at the City Center. I actually came from Villaggio Mall since I was not allowed to enter there too. So where are guys like me going to shop?" an irate man said.

Clever bachelors, however, were able to enter the shopping mall by tagging to families or joining single women. Some helpful women went in and out several times fetching other bachelors who wanted to window shop, talk with friends, and even just enjoy the comforts of the air-conditioned mall.

For some bachelors, it was also a chance to make more friends, especially with single women. Others availed of the rear entrance where guards were more lenient, while a few took the elevator where no security personnel

were stationed.

Efforts to contact officials from City Center proved futile as on one was available to make a statement on the issue.

Meanwhile, the City Center bus stop has just been shifted to the back of the shopping mall which caused some confusion among the passengers. The transfer was due to the ongoing road works in the area, a Karwa dispatcher said. It can also be noted that the pick-up point for taxis had earlier been moved near the parking space on the left side of the mall which many commuters lauded because of the shaded area but motorists abhorred because of obstruction to traffic.

Source ::: The Peninsula / By RAYNALD RIVERA
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&sub...

By Arien• 19 Jul 2008 16:04
Arien

Shame on the dailies out here!!!!!!!!!!!!

They sucks!!! couldnt even get a statement from the responsible management of this malls on the issue even after so many days. Journalism???? go run a fish shop..

_______________________________________________________

''BELOW THREAD NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE''

http://www.qatarliving.com/node/146167#comment-505112

By marhabtain• 19 Jul 2008 15:40
marhabtain

For goodness sake - stop whinging! There are plenty of hotel lobbies to hang out in - Four Seasons, Sheraton etc etc etc Hi, back to the gin!

By Enigma• 15 Jul 2008 19:38
Enigma

The words represented for all.

By LiVe LiFe• 15 Jul 2008 19:23
LiVe LiFe

well qatarisun .. hope this cud b said to the ppl who attend colleges abroad "come, study, leave the country" but guess this is not the case 'cause all r not the same .. anyways .. guess there is no point to continue as now we as human beings being divided r the creation gone wrong 'cause some seem to be above others and not realizing that we all r one ..

So the main point then is Ppl get married or hire a wife for fridays .... Peace

By Ashfaq• 14 Jul 2008 23:46
Ashfaq

while living back home those poor workers dont know what is the exact value of 400 riyals,not like the one who is offered 40000 riyals and still investigating wether this money is enough to live in qatar (we have read post ourselves on QL) and more over the manpower agency offeres them more than what they actually are paid once they come here ..this is for your info in case if u dont know...

By qatarisun• 14 Jul 2008 23:15
qatarisun

Live Lfe, i guess they DO realize. They offered you a job in their country for a certain salary...you accepted both a job and the salary. They want you to do your job for the salary that you agreed about, and go back home! It is that simple.

By LiVe LiFe• 14 Jul 2008 22:59
LiVe LiFe

Dunno if they realize that these malls were built by these people who work their ass off in all weather conditions for a small amount of pay and wat do they get in return .. turning their only day off - off limits to them 'cause its Family day !!

Wonder why the families cant make their usual trips/purchases on the weekdays ? There won't be any 'nó parking space' issue .... Well why not try a day for the bachelors .. 'Bachelors Day'

By qatarisun• 14 Jul 2008 18:34
qatarisun

adnan.. about qataries.. it is THEIR country.. they can NOT be stopped anywhere in their own country! it would be a nonsense! but they DO can make the rules for the strangers...it's a time to get used to this rule and.. just to take it easy...

By adnan_nk• 13 Jul 2008 20:10
adnan_nk

i wonder how cum large group of qataris strol in the mall on fridays? wondering if they ben stoppd at gate..

` c h i n g a A a l i n g `

By flanostu• 13 Jul 2008 20:07
flanostu

it's clearly written in the Quran that bachelors can't go to malls.

can't remember the exact chapter but it goes along the lines of "blah blah pig bad blah blah thou shalt not shop if thy single male blah blah blah did i mention pig is bad blah blah blah".

By jang929• 13 Jul 2008 20:07
jang929

I refrain from City Centre because the parking (lack of it) is such a turn-off.

Not that keen on paying for parking either, because that will be the start of a spiral increase.. no end to that..

Would be keen to see light rail transport system into City Centre actually.. so we can park anywhere we like and get reliable, easy access and minimize contribution to CO2 emission.. =)

By Fatcat• 13 Jul 2008 19:59
Fatcat

Sometimes I wish the malls would start charging for parking, like QR1 or QR2. I bet that would make it easier for us to find parking.

By jang929• 13 Jul 2008 19:40
jang929

nah.. you don't have to learn arabic... you can just pretend to be a mute... that should tide you over for emergency shopping =P

but qatarisun's suggestion is very feasible too! if you wear the veil, it should be pretty foolproof~~~

By superdoc• 13 Jul 2008 19:31
superdoc

Or buy a thob and gatra and learn some arabic

By qatarisun• 13 Jul 2008 19:23
qatarisun

GUYS! here is a solution!

you can put on women's clothes!!!

and go to any Mall any day of the week you want!

By harsha• 13 Jul 2008 19:13
harsha

i guess all malls have famly day on friday..

By jang929• 13 Jul 2008 19:03
jang929

maybe the ladies can set up an "escort" service... hahaha...

anyway.. not discriminating, but just an observation.. I think "family day" helps to ease the crowds, benefits the ladies who don't wish to jostle with the herds of bachelors hanging around "enjoying the comforts of the air-conditioned mall"...

anyway.. guys don't really window-shop, right? they know what exactly they want and buy it and that's it.. so.. I guess just to go places like Dasman Centre or Family Food Centre... they seem to have everything a guy needs?

Also, the malls take turns to do "family day".. I believe that

- THURS = Landmark,

- FRI = City Centre,

- SAT = Villagio?

But yes, Doha definitely can do with more recreational areas for all genders... malls are getting boring...

By qatarisun• 13 Jul 2008 18:47
qatarisun

oh, you mean in general single women.....but anyway women usually spend much more than guys...

By aaahmed81• 13 Jul 2008 18:43
aaahmed81

i went in on friday... no one asked me where i was going... and i went in all alone... maybe they should have stopped me, then maybe i would have found a single woman to let me in...

By anil_fig• 13 Jul 2008 18:38
anil_fig

single women

By qatarisun• 13 Jul 2008 18:35
qatarisun

spinsters??? ha ha ha...

By anil_fig• 13 Jul 2008 17:46
anil_fig

the spinsters in. If they let the spinsters in then this is gender discrimination.I need to sue City center

By Mayasunil• 13 Jul 2008 16:44
Mayasunil

Where the hell else to go and Kill the holdiays here??..

there is nothing other than malls .. even corniche and the park suring the summer is impossible.

By asif1142• 13 Jul 2008 16:36
asif1142

Hi All. i wounder why the Qatri Government have never planned to make some recrational places for general public, like parks. only the one Cornechie is the place where people strolls and relax.

i believe the Qatris donot wanna such things as they spend their wekends in Dubai..

Cheers

By qatarisun• 13 Jul 2008 14:32
qatarisun

"...Some helpful women went in and out several times fetching other bachelors.."

.. wow... good way of making some money...:P

but on more serious note...

"...who wanted to window shop, talk with friends, and even just enjoy the comforts of the air-conditioned mall...."

THIS IS A PROBLEM!

Other day I came to Villagio to buy some really necessary stuff.. I hate shopping, specially MALLS shopping… I go there only when I really need it! …so … at that time in Villagio I was not able to find a parking, and I have left!!

So… it IS a problem, that so many people "wanted to window shop, talk with friends, and even just enjoy the comforts of the air-conditioned mall"...

what people like ME, who NEEDS TO SHOP, and not to enjoy the comforts of the air-conditioned mall, have to do???

I really don't understand what kind of pleasure ppl find in going around and doing nothing but staring , in these crowded places! Wallah, what a waste of time!!

By WitchStix• 13 Jul 2008 13:24
WitchStix

i saw this happening on friday, i think it is the most stupid idea in the world. its a form of discrimination and serves absolutely NO purpose whatso ever! stupid stupid rule.... and its true that certain bachelors (of a certain race) were allowed to enter while others were denied. who would make up such a stupid idea???!

"And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course" -Khalil Gibran

By anonymous• 13 Jul 2008 13:13
anonymous

See how many expat boycott the Mall. Fat Hope :)

By compmad• 13 Jul 2008 13:08
compmad

Better all boycott the mall.

By Qatar Idols• 13 Jul 2008 13:07
Qatar Idols

we all know that Friday is everybody's off day. some they called it rest day.

now, the bottomline of their proposed Friday's Family Day is unfair. in all expats, weekdays are for works and weekend is for enjoying the day at mall with friends, shopping, etc.

why they don't make it on Saturday instead. saturday is the first day of work and Qatari's has no work on saturday so that's their time to limit all malls for them.

By anonymous• 13 Jul 2008 12:57
anonymous

this is rubbish! this makes me pack up and leave qatar...for good!!!!!!

Shall I book the next available flight 4 U :)

Get used ot it. You can not do a hoot to change the situation by screeming behind the Box here:(

By Grantley• 13 Jul 2008 12:53
Grantley

... they tried to turn me away as well. I'm western, mid-40's - I told them I was meeting my family 'inside', and I was let through.

By hassan1024• 13 Jul 2008 11:15
hassan1024

For some bachelors, it was also a chance to make more friends, especially with single women.

Malls are the new nightclubs, so it would seem.

By Mayasunil• 13 Jul 2008 09:47
Mayasunil

this is brutal.. family guys have atleast their family around . THis ones sacrifies a lot for a living.

They should be given the freedom to move.

By doha_astig• 13 Jul 2008 09:20
doha_astig

this is rubbish! this makes me pack up and leave qatar...for good!!!!!!

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,

but by the moments that take our breath away."

By Chairboy• 13 Jul 2008 09:11
Chairboy

This is frankly an appalling decision by the management of the City Centre Mall at all levels - commercially, socially and economically. What possible good can it do to yet further otricise the majority of the Doha population who in all probability have little other than a weekly jaunt to the Mall to look forward to on their one day off per week!!! Its little wonder that there was nobody available from the alleged management of City Centre to offer comment - clearly they would feel as do I that the decision is indefensible!!

By dhanurath• 12 Jul 2008 16:12
dhanurath

You are absolutely correct. They are all coming from different part of the world. They sacrifice a lot to live and work here. Atleast, their right of moving freely around Qatar should not be prohibited, I believe. I never heard that a family is harrassed or assaulted by a bachelor or a group of bachelors in a safe place like Qatar.

Best wishes to all!

By Sunshine5580• 12 Jul 2008 13:10
Sunshine5580

oh dont be surprised if they base the entry to the bachelors depending on the nationality. But i wonder when the bachelors r not allowed to enter ny of the shopping centres, plus they hav a housing prob where 10 ppl r crammed in one room. so where r they expected to go? no wonder they r walkg outside on the roads, n running in front of the cars while crossing the roads. i cant even blame them coz there isnt nywhere for them to go.imagine in this scortching heat.hmmmm.

Log in or register to post comments

More from Qatar Living

Qatar’s top beaches for water sports thrills

Qatar’s top beaches for water sports thrills

Let's dive into the best beaches in Qatar, where you can have a blast with water activities, sports and all around fun times.
Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part Two

Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part Two

This guide brings you the top apps that will simplify the use of government services in Qatar.
Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part One

Most Useful Apps In Qatar - Part One

this guide presents the top must-have Qatar-based apps to help you navigate, dine, explore, access government services, and more in the country.
Winter is coming – Qatar’s seasonal adventures await!

Winter is coming – Qatar’s seasonal adventures await!

Qatar's winter months are brimming with unmissable experiences, from the AFC Asian Cup 2023 to the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024 and a variety of outdoor adventures and cultural delights.
7 Days of Fun: One-Week Activity Plan for Kids

7 Days of Fun: One-Week Activity Plan for Kids

Stuck with a week-long holiday and bored kids? We've got a one week activity plan for fun, learning, and lasting memories.
Wallet-friendly Mango Sticky Rice restaurants that are delightful on a budget

Wallet-friendly Mango Sticky Rice restaurants that are delightful on a budget

Fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a sweet escape into the world of budget-friendly Mango Sticky Rice that's sure to satisfy both your cravings and your budget!
Places to enjoy Mango Sticky Rice in  high-end elegance

Places to enjoy Mango Sticky Rice in high-end elegance

Delve into a world of culinary luxury as we explore the upmarket hotels and fine dining restaurants serving exquisite Mango Sticky Rice.
Where to celebrate World Vegan Day in Qatar

Where to celebrate World Vegan Day in Qatar

Celebrate World Vegan Day with our list of vegan food outlets offering an array of delectable options, spanning from colorful salads to savory shawarma and indulgent desserts.